Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

One of the most delicious pumpkin treats I have ever had. Soft, easy, amazingly tasty.

Definition of these Pumpkin Whoopie Pies: Perfection in every bite.

Makes about: 20-25 sandwich cookies

Takes about: 2 hours (including cooling)

Difficulty: 1 out of 5

Prep:

Place a piece of parchment paper on two baking sheets and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Ingredients:

- Cookie

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon ginger

1 cup unsalted butter - room temperature

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin

- Filling

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup whole milk - whole milk specifically

1 cup unsalted butter - room temperature

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions:

- Step 1 - Mix the Together Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, mix together the 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons or baking soda, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of ginger until well combined.

Set aside until needed.

- Step 2 - Cream the Butter

In a large bowl, cream the 1 cup of butter until fluffy.

- Step 3 - Add Vanilla and Sugar

Add the 1 teaspoon of vanilla and the 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar and mix well.

- Step 4 - Add the Eggs

Add the 2 eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Egg 1

Egg 2

- Step 5 - Add Pumpkin and Dry Ingredients

Alternate 2 or 3 times, adding the 1 1/2 cups pumpkin and the mixture of dry ingredients into the prepared batter, beating well after each addition until all the dry ingredients are incorporated.

- Step 6 - Make the Cookies

Form each cookie into about 2 tablespoons of batter and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheet.

The dough is very sticky, so using two spoons is very helpful.

- Step 7 - Bake

Place the cookies into the preheated oven and bake for about 10 minutes or until the bottoms are slightly browned and the cookies are baked through.

The cookies will have a cake like texture that is light and fluffy.

Place them on a cooling rack until completely cooled.

- Step 8 - Start the Filling

In a small sauce pan on low heat, constantly mix together 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour, 1/8 teaspoon of salt, and 3/4 cup of whole milk.

Keep on low heat, stirring constantly until a thick paste has formed.

- Step 9 - Cover and Refrigerate

Once the flour, salt, and milk mixture has thickened, spoon the paste into a shallow bowl, cover, and refrigerate until completed cooled.

- Step 10 - Cream More Butter

In a medium or large bowl, cream the 1 cup butter until fluffy.

- Step 11 - Mix in the Vanilla and Powdered Sugar

Add the two teaspoons vanilla to the creamed butter until completely incorporated.

Add the 2 cups powdered sugar into the vanilla and butter mixture until all the sugar is mixed in.

- Step 12 - Finish the Filling

Add the refrigerated cooled paste to the butter mixture and mix until fluffy.

If the filling seams to be separating, just keep mixing.

If it still is not coming together, add about 1/8 cup more powered sugar. Do not add too much sugar, because it will make the filling too sweet.

Good news - if the filling does not come together, that is alright, it will still taste amazing.

- Step 13 - Fill the Piping Bag

Fit a piping tip into a pipping bag, place the pipping bag into a large cup, and spoon the filling into a piping bag.

Set aside until the cookies are ready to pipe.

- Step 14 - Pair, Pipe. and Then Place

Find each cookies perfect partner, align them up, to make sure each cookie has a pair (eat any leftovers).

Pipe the filling onto one half of each pair.

Place the the other half of the un-iced cookie atop the iced cookie creating a sandwich.

- Step 15 - Don't Eat the All

I am not trying to tell you what to do, but these cookies are so hard not to eat...

But, what right do I have to tell you what you can and can not do, eat all of them if you want!

Enjoy them all!!!

But can I have one?

Adapted from Taste of Home's "Pumpkin Woopie Pie" recipe.